NEWSLETTER
BLAKE EPHEMERA
Among the medieval streets of York is a shop called “Blake Head,” and when a passerby inquired as to which Blake was intended, the shop attendant said, “The poet William Blake” and pointed to the shop sign over the door. There, sure enough, was an unmistakable emblem identifying the establishment with the poet, for it represents the frontispiece to Songs of Experience (see photo of the Blake Head shopping bag). While the emblem is not a “Blake Head” and the shop had no Blake in stock in January 1993, the sign is still an agreeable indication of potent appeal of the author of Songs of Innocence and of Experience and his designs. And for remainders it is quite a nice shop, too.